Actor Don Johnson's love of cocaine almost cost him his life when a drug deal went awry and led to a shoot-out between gangs.

The former Miami Vice star thought it would be a good idea to ride along on one drug deal at the height of his cocaine abuse but quickly realised he'd made a big mistake when shots rang out.

He tells Rolling Stone, "I was just there for the free drugs, I swear... I usually never got involved. I never was a dealer. I never was a smuggler. Well, I mean I would smuggle for myself, personally, but that was it."

He tells the publication he had to jump through a window to survive the crossfire, adding, "I could feel the negative energy."